The Rack & Pinion is used to convert between rotary and linear motion. The rack is the flat, toothed part, the pinion is the gear. Rack and pinion can convert from rotary to linear of from linear to rotary.The diameter of the gear determines the speed that the rack moves as the pinion turns.Rack and pinions are commonly used in the steering system of cars to convert the rotary motion of the steering wheel to the side to side motion in the wheels.

Rack and pinion gears give a positive motion especially compared to the friction drive of a wheel in tarmac. In the rack and pinion railway, a central rack between the two rails engages with a pinion on the engine allowing the train to be pulled up very steep slopes.